Annie Katec

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

French Interior Minister moved to defend the controversial state ban on full-face veils after yet another fight sparked riots outside Paris, which he said now has "contained".

The weekend violence erupted on the outskirts of Trappes after a man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer who had stopped her on it veils - a practice that is banned in France, outraging many in the Muslim community.

"The law is the law banning the veil for women ... It is not for the second law of Islam," Manuel Valls told RTL radio.

"It is against the law practices that have nothing to do with tradition and our values​​, and the police do their job well."

France, home to Europe's largest Muslim population - estimated at 5 million - have banned women from wearing full face veils in public since April 2011, and authorities said about 300 women were caught breaking the law that applies in the first year.

Criminal offense with a fine of up to € 150 ($ 200) or mandatory citizenship training, and the ban has caused outrage and has led to a flare-up of violence.

It also led to landmark court cases, like that of a nursery assistant who was fired for refusing to remove her Islamic headscarf. The decision was later overturned by the appeals court, by reason of religious "discrimination".

There are also some cases, though rarely, people taking vigilante action against Muslim women to wear veils in public. Recently reported that a pregnant Muslim woman lost her baby after being kicked in the stomach by one of the vigilante.

Later on Monday, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the weekend violence was "unacceptable" and asked everyone to respect the law.